Tag: suspense

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Beat the Backlist book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Mrs Parrish by Liv Constantine

Published October 17th, 2017 by Harper Collins UK
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Reese Witherspoon book club pick!

Perfect for fans of B. A. Paris, Shari Lapena and Liane Moriarty

How far would you go to make all your dreams come true?

Amber Patterson is tired of being a nobody: an invisible woman who melts into the background. She deserves more. She deserves a life of wealth, luxury and leisure.

Daphne Parrish is the golden girl of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut. With her model looks, her picture-perfect mansion and her millionaire husband, Jackson, she has everything Amber wants.

Amber’s envy could eat her alive—if she didn’t have a plan. Before long, she has become Daphne’s closest friend, and is catching the eye of Jackson. But a skeleton from her past could destroy everything, and if discovered, Amber’s well-laid plan may end in disaster…

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MY REVIEW:

The Last Mrs Parrish has been sitting languishing on my shelf for many years. It’s one of those much-hyped books I loved the sound of but was also scared to read in case it didn’t live up to the hype. But when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read its follow up, The Next Mrs Parrish, as one of our August SquadPod Featured Books, I realised it was time to finally dive in.

This was one crazy rollercoaster ride! I now get the hype. Sassy, seductive, tense and unpredictable, I couldn’t put this down and was trying to keep my eyes open with matchsticks so I could keep reading well into the night. I needed answers! There’s deception, secrets, power, envy, greed, and revenge. And a creeping malice that lingers on every page of this deliciously escapist thriller. Liv Constantine have crafted a story that is skilfully written, cleverly plotted, and filled with so many twists, turns and red herrings that I got book whiplash. How on earth is this a debut? I was on the edge of my seat, completely in Constantine’s thrall until the very last page. And that ending! Sheer perfection. 

The story centres around two women: Amber Patterson and Daphne Parrish. Amber is tired of being a nobody. She knows that she deserves a life of fortune, opulence and leisure where others cater to her every whim. Daphne Parrish has that life. She’s beautiful, married to Jackson, a gorgeous millionaire, and lives a life of luxury in a dream house. And Amber is going to take it. She hatches a plan: befriending Daphne and becoming her best friend so that she can get closer to Jackson Parrish and make him fall for her charms. These two protagonists may become best friends, but they are very different. Amber has a chip on her shoulder, feels like the world owes her the kind of life she dreams of, and is ruthless in her pursuit of it. A femme fatale who uses her feminine wiles to get what she wants, doesn’t think twice about lying, and has no regard for who she hurts along the way, Amber is a deeply unlikable but undeniably captivating character. Then we have Daphne. Daphne lives a life of luxury that most of us can only imagine, is one half of a golden couple with the kind of marriage others look up to, and lives in a picture-perfect mansion. She is also genuine and kind, and what matters to her most is the foundation she runs in memory of her sister, Julie, who died of CF. I really liked Daphne but felt so bad for her. She believed Amber was her best friend and was completely unaware she was swimming in shark-infested waters and was about to be devoured. I wanted to jump into the book and warn her. 

Devilishly atmospheric, addictive and outrageous, don’t miss this heart-stopping thriller. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one and a half million copies sold worldwide. They are Library Reads Hall of Fame authors.  Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film.  Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Last Dance (Detective Miller Book 1) by Mark Billingham

Published May 25th, 2023 by Sphere
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Police Procedural

Welcome to my review for this gritty, original and addictive thriller. Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE FIRST NEW SERIES FROM #1 BESTSELLER MARK BILLINGHAM IN 20 YEARS.

‘Readers rejoice! A captivating new series from Mark Billingham, the very best in the business’ — RICHARD OSMAN

Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated…

He’s a detective, a dancer, he has no respect for authority ­- and he’s the best hope Blackpool has for keeping criminals off the streets. Meet Detective Declan Miller.

A double murder in a seaside hotel sees a grieving Miller return to work to solve what appears to be a case of mistaken identity. Just why were two completely unconnected men taken out?

Despite a somewhat dubious relationship with both reality and his new partner, can the eccentric, offbeat Miller find answers where his colleagues have found only an impossible puzzle?

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MY REVIEW:

Meet Detective Miller: unique, unconventional, and criminally underestimated…

Funny, warm, gritty and original, The Last Dance is a captivating start to what I am sure will become a must-read series. This is Mark Billingham’s first new series in twenty years, and while I hadn’t read any of his books, I had heard great things about them. So this new series seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally acquaint myself with this bestselling author. 

Set in Blackpool, The Last Dance introduces us to Detective Declan Miller, a down-to-earth northerner who is unapologetically himself and has no respect for authority. He was happily married to Alex before her tragic murder six weeks ago and the book opens with his first day back at work. Everyone is concerned it’s too soon, but Miller insists he is going crazy at home and needs to work. He is assigned a new partner, DS Sara Xiu, and it isn’t long before a call comes in about a double murder in a hotel and the pair begin their first investigation. The two victims appear to be completely unrelated. So why were they both killed in the same hotel at the same time? Miller and Xiu attempt to solve the puzzle, leading them to a tangled web of secrets that they must unravel. Running parallel to this is the investigation into Alex’s murder, which Miller is infuriated to not be a part of. He inevitably goes rogue, leading reprimands from his superiors. But could Miller’s unorthodox methods lead to clues that others have missed and finally get the answers he’s been waiting for.

Why did I wait so long to read this author? I was hooked from the start and I now understand why his books come so highly recommended. Billingham’s writing is simple but full of suspense, emotion and humour, his storylines are deceptively complex, and his characters are richly drawn and real. I listened to this on audiobook and was immediately pulled into the story, the brilliant narration merging with the other elements to create an unputdownable thriller that I devoured in under 24 hours. 

But the star of this book is undoubtedly its endearing and likeable protagonist, Detective Declan Miller. Plain-speaking, deadpan, sarcastic and outgoing, he is a stereotypical northerner, which I loved as a northern girl myself. But there is more to him than his dry wit, no-nonsense attitude and disregard of authority; he is also a keen ballroom dancer and has two beloved pet rats named Fred and Ginger. Miller’s love for his late wife is evident on every page and it is obvious that they shared the kind of real love we all want to find. My  heart broke for him losing her too soon and his raw grief was palpable, causing his loose grip on reality even as he used humour as a way to try to deflect and cope with the pain. I liked that the author created such a three-dimensional character, giving Miller a vulnerability and heart underneath the brusque northernness and avoided making him into a caricature. DS Sara Xiu – his new work partner – is Miller’s total opposite, but the pair soon learn how to work together. I loved their banter and how she would give Miller as good as she gets. They were a great pairing and I can’t wait to watch them investigate more cases.

Tightly plotted, tense and twisting, this is a strong start to a new series. Highly recommended. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 60 days of listening free with my affiliate link*

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Mark Billingham was born and brought up in Birmingham. Having worked for some years as an actor and more recently as a TV writer and stand-up comedian his first crime novel was published in 2001.

Sleepyhead was an instant bestseller in the UK. It has been sold widely throughout the world and was published in the USA in the summer of 2002.

The series of crime novels featuring London-based detective Tom Thorne continued with Scaredy Cat and was followed by Lazybones, The Burning Girl, Lifeless, Buried, Death Message, Bloodline, From The Dead, Good As Dead, The Dying Hours, The Bones Beneath, Time Of Death, Love Like Blood, The Killing Habit, Their Little Secret, Cry Baby and the most recent The Murder Book. Mark is also the author of the standalone novels In The Dark, Rush Of Blood, Die Of Shame and his latest, Rabbit Hole.

A new series featuring DS Declan Miller began in 2023 with The Last Dance. The second in the series – The Wrong Hands – will be published in 2024.

Mark is also a regular contributor to radio and TV and is a member of the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a combo of bestselling crime and thriller writers who performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2019.

An acclaimed television series based on the Thorne novels was screened on Sky One in Autumn 2010, starring David Morrissey as Tom Thorne. A series based on the novels In The Dark and Time Of Death was screened on BBC1 in 2017.

Mark lives in London with his wife and two children. He is currently writing his next novel.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones*| Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SKELF SUMMER: The Big Chill (The Skelfs, 2) by Doug Johnstone

Published August 20th, 2020 by Orenda Books
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Dark Comedy, Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Noir Fiction, Crime Series, Domestic Fiction, Urban Fiction

Today I’m sharing my review for The Big Chill, the second book in Skelf Summer. Thank you to Orenda Books for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Running private-investigator and funeral-home businesses means trouble is never far away, and the Skelf women take on their most perplexing, chilling cases yet in Book Two of the darkly funny, devastatingly tense and addictive Skelfs series!

***Longlisted for Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year***

‘Compelling, compassionate … just brilliant. This series gets better with every book. I cannot get enough of the Skelfs’ Mark Billingham

‘Brilliantly drawn and blackly comic’ Herald Scotland

‘Confirms the Skelfs as a classic crime clan. I can’t wait for the next one’ Erin Kelly

‘I LOVE the Skelfs … The only problem with The Big Chill is that you’ll devour it so fast you’ll feel as bereft as one of the Skelfs’ clients. Doug Johnstone has murdered sleep’ Val McDermid

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Haunted by their past, the Skelf women are hoping for a quieter life. But running both a funeral directors’ and a private investigation business means trouble is never far away, and when a car crashes into the open grave at a funeral that matriarch Dorothy is conducting, she can’t help looking into the dead driver’s shadowy life. 

While Dorothy uncovers a dark truth at the heart of Edinburgh society, her daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah have their own struggles. Jenny’s ex-husband Craig is making plans that could shatter the Skelf women’s lives, and the increasingly obsessive Hannah has formed a friendship with an elderly professor that is fast turning deadly.

But something even more sinister emerges when a drumming student of Dorothy’s disappears and suspicion falls on her parents. The Skelf women find themselves sucked into an unbearable darkness – but could the real threat be to themselves?

Following three women as they deal with the dead, help the living and find out who they are in the process, The Big Chill follows A Dark Matter, book one in the Skelfs series, which reboots the classic PI novel while asking the big existential questions, all with a big dose of pitch-black humour.

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MY REVIEW:

The Big Chill is the second book in Doug Johnstone’s sensational Skelfs Series, which follows Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah Skelf, three generations of one family who work together running the family’s two businesses: a funeral home and private investigation company. I decide to re-read this book, almost four years to the day after my first read, as I am reading the rest of the series for Skelf Summer – six weeks of reading the series in order leading up to the publication of book six in September. It jumps straight into the action, with a car chase interrupting a funeral that leaves the unidentified driver dead. The family matriarch, Dorothy, can’t let it go and is determined to find out who he was and lay him to rest. But this isn’t their only investigation, with others running simultaneously, as well as the funeral business always keeping them busy. 

Complex, layered and sizzling with drama, tension and ominous rumblings under the surface, The Big Chill is another outstanding return to Edinburgh with the Skelfs. While I recommend reading the first book in the series, this can be read as a standalone as Doug Johnstone quickly catches you up on the traumatic and life-changing events that occurred. In fact, this was the first book in the series I ever read and I never found myself confused about what I was reading.  I enjoyed this one even more the second time around, maybe because I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator does such a brilliant job of bringing the story and characters to life. Once again I was hooked from the opening pages and on tenterhooks as I tried to predict where this twisty tale would go next.

I loved the fascinating mix of three generations working together in dual roles that is an unusual pairing. It’s a brilliant basis for a series, so different from anything else I’ve read. The characters are well-written, compelling and full of depth. They are each trying to come to terms with the distressing and painful events of book one, and are still haunted and trying to make sense of it all. In the three women, the author shows how trauma and PTSD can affect people in different ways in a very real and relatable way that hit home with me a number of times. The background characters were also fully drawn with interesting storylines and back stories of their own. I’m very eager to read more about Archie and his unusual condition. 

Suspenseful, pacy and addictive, The Big Chill is perfect for anyone looking for a thriller that’s a little bit different. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✫

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

SKELF SUMMER: A Dark Matter (The Skelfs, 1) by Doug Johnstone

Published January 23rd, 2020 by Orenda Books
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Urban Ficiton, Lesbian Literature, Crime Series

Today I’m sharing my first review for Skelf Summer. Thank you to Danielle at Orenda for the invitation to take part.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Three generations of women from the Skelfs family take over the family funeral home and PI businesses in the first book of a taut, gripping page-turning and darkly funny new series.

***Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Best Scottish Crime Book of the Year*** 
***Shortlisted for the Amazon Publishing Capital Crime Awards***

‘An engrossing and beautifully written tale that bears all the Doug Johnstone hallmarks in its warmth and darkly comic undertones’ Herald Scotland

‘Gripping and blackly humorous’ Observer

‘I was addicted from the first page; gripping, gritty and darkly funny as hell’ Erin Kelly

‘A Dark Matter showcases a writer at the peak of his powers, except that with every book, Doug Johnstone just gets better’ Val McDermid

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Meet the Skelfs: well-known Edinburgh family, proprietors of a long-established funeral-home business, and private investigators…

When patriarch Jim dies, it’s left to his wife Dorothy, daughter Jenny and granddaughter Hannah to take charge of both businesses, kicking off an unexpected series of events.

Dorothy discovers mysterious payments to another woman, suggesting that Jim wasn’t the husband she thought he was. Hannah’s best friend Mel has vanished from university, and the simple adultery case that Jenny takes on leads to something stranger and far darker than any of them could have imagined.

As the women struggle to come to terms with their grief, and the demands of the business threaten to overwhelm them, secrets from the past emerge, which change everything…

A compelling, tense and shocking thriller and a darkly funny and warm portrait of a family in turmoil, A Dark Matter introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, marking the start of an addictive new series.

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MY REVIEW:

“If they didn’t solve these mysteries, who would?”

I’m a big fan of Doug Johnstone’s Skelfs Series but I started it by reading the second instalment, and then somehow skipped a couple of others. So when I received an email from Orenda Books asking if I would like to take part in Skelf Summer – six weeks of reading the series in order leading up to the publication of book six in September – I jumped at the chance. 

First up is A Dark Matter, in which we are introduced to Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah Skelf, three generations of a well-known Edinburgh family that own a long-established funeral home and private investigation business. At the start of the book, they are mourning the death of patriarch Jim while also trying to get on with the day-to-day task of running their businesses. When Dorothy discovers mysterious payments being made to another woman each month going back years, she realises that Jim had been keeping secrets. Meanwhile, Hannah’s best friend Mel has disappeared and the police aren’t interested in investigating, leaving her to take on that challenge herself, and a simple adultery investigation leads Jenny onto an unexpected path. But they are unprepared for the dark and shocking revelations they are about to unveil…

Suspenseful, twisting, darkly funny and addictive, this is a fantastic start to Doug Johnstone’s original series. I have no idea how he came up with the idea of three generations of women running a funeral home and private investigators, but it is a brilliant concept that I can’t get enough of.  The three women at its heart are intelligent, fierce, warm, wickedly funny, likeable but flawed, and easy to root for. Matirach Dorothy may be in her seventies, but has lost none of her zeal and is determined to get to the bottom of the secret payments Jim had been making. Her daughter and granddaughter are equally tenacious and they all have a quiet fortitude that they must draw on as their investigations intersect in unexpected ways, leading to shocking revelations that will change their lives forever.

Doug Johnstone never misses. His writing is atmospheric, tense, propulsive, witty and full of complex emotions that keep the reader hooked. He explores difficult subjects such as predatory men, the danger they pose and how blase so many have become about the issue. Another big topic in this book is grief and how differently we are all affected, portraying it in ways that are relatable, touching and full of black humour. But it is how intricately he intertwined  the storylines in unexpected ways, throwing in red herrings and unforeseen twists, that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. 

This is a must read for any thriller fan.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to get 90 days free with my affiliate link*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Doug Johnstone is the author of Fourteen novels, includingThe Great Silence, the third in the Skelfs series, which has been optioned for  In 2021, The Big Chill, the second in the series, was longlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. In 2020, A Dark Matter, the first in the series, was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year and the Capital Crime Amazon Publishing Independent Voice Book of the Year award. Black Hearts (Book four), was published in 2022, with The Opposite of Lonely (book five) out in 2023. Several of his books have been bestsellers and award winners, and his first science fiction novel, The Space Between Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick. He’s taught creative writing, been writer in residence at various institutions, and has been an arts journalist for twenty years. Doug is a songwriter and musician with five albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. He lives in Edinburgh.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Long Water by Stef Penney

Published July 4th, 2024 by Quercus
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Crime Ficiton

Welcome to my review for this darkly atmoshperic, cryptic and compelling story. Thank you to Quercus for sending me a proof copy in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Author of the Costa-prizewinning, world-wide bestseller The Tenderness of Wolves, Stef Penney, returns to her snow-covered heartland in this tense mystery set in a small Scandinavian town.

Nordland. A region in the Norwegian Arctic; a remote valley that stretches from the sea up to the mountains and glaciers.

It is May in what was once a prosperous mining community. The snows are nearly gone and it’s a time of spring and school-leavers’ celebrations – until Daniel, a popular teenage boy, goes missing. Conflicting stories circulate among his friends, of parties and wild behaviour.

As the search for Daniel widens, the police open a disused mine in the mountains. They find human remains, but this body has been there for decades, its identity a mystery.

Everyone in this tight knit, isolated community is touched by these events: misanthropic Svea, whose long life in the area stretches back to the heyday of the mines, and beyond. She has cut all ties with her family, except for her granddaughter, Elin, an outsider like her grandmother. Elin and her friend Benny, both impacted by Daniel while he was alive, become entangled in the hunt for answers, while Svea has deep, dark secrets of her own.

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MY REVIEW:

Due to the craziness of our house move I’m a bit behind with this month’s book reviews, but I’m finally getting around to posting my review of The Long Water, which was one of this month’s SquadPod Featured books.

I adored The Tenderness of Wolves when I read it years ago, so I was excited when the SquadPod were offered the chance to read Stef Penney’s latest novel as one of our featured books. Set in Nordland, a valley in the Norwegian Arctic, the story centres around the disappearance of Daniel, a popular teenager in this remote valley. The story opens in May, when the snow has almost melted and school is ending for the year. The school-leavers celebrations are traditionally a time for parties, pranks and wild behaviour. Daniel is one of the popular kids and his disappearance touches everyone in this small town. It’s the talk of the village and different stories and theories quickly circulate. The police widen their search, eventually leading them to disused mine in the mountains. Human remains are discovered but they are not Daniel. This body has lain there for decades. Daniel’s disappearance soon fades into the background as the police try to decipher the identity of the body and what happened to them. In this small town where everybody knows everybody and secrets don’t stay hidden for long, how is it possible a body has lain in the mine for decades? And where is Daniel?

Cryptic, intriguing and compelling, this is a story you get lost in. Part crime fiction and part family saga, this beautifully written story showcases Ms. Penny’s masterful storytelling to perfection. She sets the scene through evocative imagery, transporting her reader to the remote Norwegian Arctic. Through the lens of these tragic events we are introduced to the inhabitants of this small, close-knit mining town. There’s a strong sense of community and everyone is embroiled in the search for answers. As events  unfold, shockwaves are felt throughout the town with family dramas, prejudices and long-buried secrets finally being revealed. 

Atmospheric, tense, moving and mysterious, this is one not to be missed. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Stef Penney is a screenwriter and the author of three novels: The Tenderness of Wolves (2006), The Invisible Ones (2011), and Under a Pole Star (2016). She has also written extensively for radio, including adaptations of Moby Dick, The Worst Journey in the World, and, mostly recently, a third installment of Peter O’Donnell’s Modesty Blaise series.

The Tenderness of Wolves won Costa Book of the Year, Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year, and was translated into thirty languages. It has just been re-issued in a 10th anniversary edition.

Five facts about SP:

1. I like snow. There is a magic in cold landscapes that compels me more than any other. I’m the ultimate armchair explorer. In my mind this is linked to my former agoraphobia. Wide open, hostile places produce in me a visceral reaction; perhaps that’s why I can’t stop writing, or reading, about them. I’m drawn to what scares me – treeless wilderness, the open sea, Space…

2. I do zero-carbon research. Unlike the protagonist of Under A Pole Star, I haven’t been to the North Pole. I have been to the Scandinavian Arctic – which is totally different – but am unconvinced that being there has made my writing about landscape any stronger (I hadn’t been before The Tenderness of Wolves). Being there normalises a place; you are struck by differences, but even more by similarities: wherever there are people, there be dentists. Still, I have great memories of Lapland: picking sour blueberries from the banks of a mountain stream; cross-country skiing and realising that I could still fall over as safely as when I was a child; watching a Japanese contestant in the Air Guitar World Championships channel Star Wars; visiting Santa’s village and meeting the man himself – and sitting on his knee – in August…

3. I’m Scottish. I have a love-hate relationship with Scotland that is shared by many Scottish exiles. Elements of this: pride in its Enlightenment thinkers, its inventiveness and internationalism; love and awe of the landscape; nostalgia for chilly Highland summers; a sneaking pride in having endured games on frozen fields, in shorts, and endless walks in scenery obscured by drizzle. Then there’s the food: deep-fried Mars bar – delicious. Deep-fried frozen pizza, on the other hand… Scotland’s a great place. I’d probably want to live in it, if I hadn’t grown up there.

4. I’m a feminist. Doesn’t need saying these days, right? Or maybe it does. Writing about a female explorer at the end of the 19th Century, I’ve been more aware of it than ever. The protagonist struggles to be taken seriously with her ambition, of course, but something else happened in the writing process I didn’t expect: it became a deeply explicit love story. This felt like a political as well as a narrative necessity; there have been far too many vague, unconvincing and plain misleading sex scenes in books and films, and it felt vital to tell the truth – and for that, “Dot, dot, dot. Afterwards” was not going to cut it.

5. I have a degree in Philosophy and Theology. It made me unemployable. In my final year, I was browsing through the job pages when I came across my perfect job – Officer for Comparative Religions in a local authority. Hurray, I thought, finally, something that suits my skill set. Then I noticed that the advert next to it was for a Senior Carrot Inspector. I looked at the date – it was April 1st. Obviously, I had to become a writer.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophile xxxx

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Uncategorised

BLOG TOUR: Saving Elora by Jackie Watson

Published May 2nd, 2024 by Hawthorn Wren
Suspense, Dramatic Fiction

Today is my stop on the blog tour for this compelling and suspenseful saga. Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to take part and to Hawthorn Wren for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Anna has it all, or so it would seem. Fiercely protective of her daughter and husband, the secrets from her past and ten-year marriage remain hidden. But is that all about to change?

Basking in a tropical paradise, a con artist tires of easily seducing gullible females. He craves a challenge, and the greatest one presents itself. To descend on a quaint Greek fishing village and betray his ex-wife for a second time.

Meanwhile, the mistress of a mafia don gives birth to a daughter. But the baby isn’t his, and it forces a childless wife and her adulterous husband to flee with Elora. And so begins a deadly game of cat and mouse. With all trust in her marriage gone and longed for motherhood thrust upon her, can Dominique protect her new family? Or will her hate, fear and guilt seal their fate?

Hairline cracks are appearing in Anna’s idyllic Greek island life. Somebody is no longer willing to endure the happily-ever-after family façade. And when unwanted and unexpected visitors arrive on her doorstep it can mean only one thing. Anna’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble with devastating results.

Get ready for an emotional and explosive action-packed sequel. In Saving Elora, discover what sacrifices people are willing to make for love, the power of forgiveness and the possibility of second chances.

For fans of gripping suspense and powerful drama, Saving Elora is a must-read. Don’t miss out on this thrilling instalment in the Apokeri Bay series.

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MY REVIEW:

A con artist is tired of the easy seduction of gullible women and decides to head to Apokeri Bay for a bigger challenge: his ex wife who is living on the island with her husband and daughter. Meanwhile, a baby girl is born to the mistress of a Mafia boss and her secret lover. When he discovers her betrayal, her father is forced to go on the run with his wronged wife to save them all from his deadly wrath. They end up on Apokeri Bay, disrupting the island’s idyll and resulting in a thrilling series of events that will change lives forever. 

Suspenseful, emotional and action-packed, Saving Elora is a compelling saga that transports you to the sunny climes of the Greek Island of Apokeri for a story of love, secrets, betrayal, vendettas and forgiveness. This book is a sequel but although I’d not read the first book it was easy to follow and is easily read as a standalone. Well-written, fast-paced and oozing tension, Jackie Watson quickly drew me into the fictional world she had created and I loved the sense of community that radiated from the pages. I was immersed in the lives of this eclectic cast of fascinating characters, rooting for baby Elora to be saved, for Javier to be redeemed, and for Anna to find happiness. Violent psychopath Francis, the Mafia boss, is a brilliantly written villain who made chills scissor up my spine. And on the other end of the scale, I had a real soft spot for young Evie and no-nonsense nonagenarian Kristina who both made me smile every time they were on the page.

Tense, twisty, moving and engaging, Saving Elora is perfect for anyone who wants their escapist read with a side of danger this summer.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

ackie writes uplifting and thought-provoking fiction set on the Greek island of Lefkada. She is based in North East England and lives in the Tyne Valley with her partner and their extremely cute and characterful Miniature Schnauzer. If not working or writing you will find her striding around the countryside, pottering in their allotment, running or occasionally cycling. There have been many travelling adventures to far-flung destinations, touring the UK and Ireland in a motorhome or camping in the Lake District.

The Apokeri Bay trilogy was born from a recurring dream about a feisty female protagonist who unexpectedly falls in love with a quaint Greek seaside village. With a unique style, Jackie weaves into her storytelling what we all love about great fiction – the chance to step into the world of somebody else and share in their life. But she certainly doesn’t give her characters an easy life. They might discover life-changing friendships, love and hope but need to overcome family friction, dark secrets, guilt and betrayal. Ultimately, they must learn how to embrace and overcome everything life throws at them.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace

Published July 11th, 2024 by Viper Books
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Women Sleuths

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this darkly funny thriller. Thank you to Viper for the invitation to take part and for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A fresh new voice in crime fiction’ – JANICE HALLETT
‘Funny, sad, witty and very engaging’ – EMMA CURTIS
‘Darkly funny and deftly plotted’ – ALICE CLARK-PLATTS

Everyone needs a hobby…

Things haven’t been going well for Beth. Her husband has left her for one of her friends. Her fellow school mums judge her for swearing too much and not shifting the baby weight. And now she’s stuck in A&E after her son fell off the climbing wall on the first day of school.

In fact, things haven’t been going well for Beth since Charlotte died – her best friend, a favourite at the school pick-ups and the only person to ever run an interesting PTA meeting. But after being hit by a car while on an ill-timed evening jog, Charlotte is no longer there to help Beth pick up the pieces of her increasingly difficult life.

That is, until Beth discovers that Charlotte left her toddler alone in the house during that fatal run. The Charlotte she knew would never do something so irresponsible, and suddenly Beth is questioning whether Charlotte’s death was really an accident. With a newfound purpose and a glass of wine in hand, it’s time for Beth to uncover what really happened to her best friend. And what better place to start than the circle of chatty school mums, who can’t be as perfect as they pretend. But which of them is hiding something? Beth’s determined to find out. Once she’s put the kids to bed, of course…

‘Riotously funny and searingly observed’ – KATE SIMANTS
‘A twisty-turny mystery that drew me in from the opening lines’ – PHILIPPA EAST

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MY REVIEW:

Dark, laugh-out-loud funny, messy, vibrant, and addictive, this was an absolute riot. I loved Joanna Wallace’s debut and couldn’t wait to pick this one up. And when I did I devoured it in under a day, unable to put it down once I’d started. 

It follows Beth, a woman who is teetering on the edge. Nothing has gone right for her since her husband left her for her friend. She’s struggling with single parenthood, the other mum’s judge her for swearing too much, and her drinking is becoming a problem. She’s a hot mess. And to make things even worse, the only person she can turn to, her best friend Charlotte, was killed the same night her husband left. But when Beth discovers that Charlotte left her young son home alone that night she immediately becomes suspicious. The Charlotte she knew would never be so irresponsible, and she begins to question if her friend’s death really was an accident. With a new found sense of purpose, Beth sets out to uncover the truth about that night….

Joanna Wallace is proving herself to be a must-read author for anyone who loves a darkly comic thriller. Deftly plotted, acutely observed and charged with adrenaline, she manages to walk that fine line of being both absolutely hilarious and deeply moving. A story of friendship, loss, grief and obsession, there are some difficult topics woven into the narrative. Dark secrets, fractured people, and complex relationships inhabit the pages, creating a melting pot of disaster ripe for boiling over. And when it does, no one will come out unscathed. Everyone is a suspect and, like Beth, I didn’t trust anyone. I loved that Wallace used certain details to make the reader suspect characters, adding to the suspicion, mistrust and unease. I was on the edge of my seat, my heart thumping, as the tension sizzled on the pages. 

Beth was a great protagonist. It’s not just her life that‘s a disaster, she is too, and it’s like she’s determined to self-destruct. I liked that she wasn’t a picture-perfect mum and had a lot of empathy for all she was going through, but I also really wanted to give her a shake. She becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering what happened to Charlotte but she is an unreliable narrator, so it was hard to know if we could trust her recollections, discoveries and suspicions. Were the pieces she’s putting together real or the overactive imaginings of a grieving woman? As the story went on she became increasingly unstable, something that seemed inevitable with her alcohol consumption and being surrounded by people she suspects of murder. The other mums and playground politics are perfectly written and I think all parents have met mothers like the ones on these pages. It certainly took me back to the days I used to do the school run and all the clique-filled drama that was part of it. 

Propulsive, tense and twisting, The Dead Friend Project is a riveting ink-black comedy not to be missed.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Joanna Wallace worked as a solicitor until an autoimmune condition took away some of her sight. She now volunteers at a charity helpline and runs a family business with her husband. She was partly inspired to write You’d Look Better as A Ghost following her father’s diagnosis of early onset dementia. Joanna lives near London with her husband, four children and two dogs.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

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Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024 Readalong

BOOK REVIEW: The Betrayal of Thomas True by A. J. West

Published July 4th, 2024 by Orenda Books
Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Gothic Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Gay Fiction

Welcome to my review for this powerful, poignant and outrageous story. Thank you to Insta Book Tours for the invitation to take part in the Readalong, and Orenda for gifting me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Set in the buried streets of Georgian London and the outrageous underworld of the molly houses, a carpenter hiding a double life searches for a traitor who is betraying the secrets of the mollies. The visceral, raucous, tender and enchanting historical thriller by the award-winning author of The Spirit Engineer.
 
‘Heartbreaking, beautiful, lyrical. I was captivated from the start … you won’t want to put it down’ Catriona Ward
 
‘A rare gem of a novel. Gloriously gritty … a darkly thrilling romp in 18th century London that simmers with sinister menace and illicit temptation’ Susan Stokes-Chapman
 
‘Stunning and powerful – an atmospheric thriller that is both heartfelt and meticulously researched. You’ll never forget Thomas True’ Janice Hallett
 
‘Really very, very good’ Stephen Fry
 
***WINNER OF THE HWA DEBUT CROWN***
_________________
 
The only sin is betrayal…
 
It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London’s hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.
 
Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly’s stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.
 
Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?
 
Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…

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MY REVIEW:

Brave, powerful, visceral, and outrageous, this book is a masterpiece. Intertwining gothic fiction, historical fiction, romance and bawdy romp, this book broke me into pieces and then put me back together. I recently read the book as part of a readalong organised by Insta Book Tours and starting it felt like an event. The group chat and questions along the way only heightened the enjoyment and I loved discussing theories along with the other bloggers. I’ll admit that I desperately wanted to race ahead and devour the book whole, but I made myself stick to the reading schedule and the payoff when I reached that breathtakingly beautiful finale was totally worth it. 

The Betrayal of Thomas True transports us to Georgian London, exploring the scandalous underbelly of the molly houses. Thomas True has arrived in London in search of a new life. But he’s harbouring a dangerous secret. A secret that leads him to be drawn into this bizarre underworld and its vibrant characters. The men who frequent them are forced to live double lives for fear of recrimination and risk everything to live as their true selves for a few short hours. But there is a rat amongst them who is betraying their secrets to a pair of cruel Justices. As Thomas and Gabriel, the molly’s guard, try to resist their forbidden love, can they unmask the rat before more lives are lost?

A. J. West is a master storyteller. This was my first time reading one of his books and he has immediately secured a spot on my auto-buy list. Expertly choreographed and sublimely written, West weaves gossamer layers of compelling storylines and a chorus of detailed characters together to create a world that leaps from the pages. It was so vivid that I could see the cobbled streets, smell the squalid air, and hear the raucous laughter of the mollies. West’s meticulous research was evident in the plethora of historic details but these never intruded on his storytelling, creating a story that was  both entertaining and educational as West shined a light on those who were forced to hide in the shadows. It felt welcoming, lively and enthralling from the opening pages and I felt like I’d stepped back in time as I lived every moment alongside the characters. This book captured my heart and soul, taking me through a rainbow of emotions. And that finale! I was lost for words, left feeling wrung-out, devastated, and uplifted all st the same time. 

Mr. West has filled this book with a motley crew of sassy, colourful, and captivating characters. The eponymous Thomas True is a fascinating, complicated protagonist who is on a journey of self-discovery. But does the title refer to him being betrayed, or is he the betrayer? I liked that we didn’t know, adding to the tension as I tried to decide if the things he was saying were true or a clever ruse to cover his tracks. Thomas finds what seems to be an authentic friendship with Gabe, a stoic, burly, bear of a man who is an absolute sweetheart underneath. His backstory broke my heart – I’m tearing up just thinking about it – and I liked him right away. He was easy to root for, I loved his friendship with Thomas, and I got really invested in their blossoming romance, even if I was worried about them being discovered. Gabe was probably my favourite character but I also had a real soft spot for Frump, the Queen of innuendo and a total riot who made me laugh out loud many times. I could happily read a whole book with him at the centre (possible future book idea, A.J.?). 

One of the things I think West does particularly well is portraying how treacherous life was for the mollies. Secrecy and a double life are a matter of life and death for these men, and the rat in their midst makes their lives even more hazardous. This brings me to Justices Grimp and Myre, an odious, vile and murderous pair who travelled the country in search of mollies to ‘bring to justice’, and the rat was giving them names. These evil men used religion and the pursuit of law and justice to sanction cruelty and persecution of others and I wished I could wipe the crooked smiles from their faces. Then there is the rat. I loved that West wrote this book so skillfully that it was hard to land on a suspect. Almost every single character had the potential to be the rat and I went back and forth through a number of suspects. This escalated the tension and kept me guessing, my heart racing as I tried to figure it out.  And that finale! I was lost for words, left feeling wrung-out, devastated, and uplifted all the same time. 

Poignant, bold, mesmerising, and spectacular, The Betrayal of Thomas True is storytelling at its finest. Unmissable and unforgettable, this phenomenal tale is a must-read that I can’t recommend highly enough. 

Rating: 🦚🦚🦚🦚🦚

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

A.J. West’s bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international praise for its telling of a long-forgotten true story. 

An award winning BBC newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical context of contemporary events. 

A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The London Library and museum archives around the world. 

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BUY THE BOOK:

Orenda Books | Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books Squadpod Reviews

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd

Published June 20th, 2024 by Pan Macmillan
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery

Welcome to my review for this compelling thriller. Thank you Chloe at Pan Macmillan sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Intoxicating, enthralling, compelling’ Harriet Tyce

‘Bold and ambitious and consuming from start to finish’ Louise Candlish

A stunning, intricately plotted and clever mystery’ Claire Douglas

‘Think The Secret History meets Saltburn’ Holly Watt

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Some women can’t be erased from history . . .

A story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.

Paris, 1938: Runaway heiress Juliette Willoughby perishes, with her married lover, in an accidental studio fire alongside her Surrealist masterpiece, Self-Portrait as Sphinx.

Cambridge, 1991: Two art history students stumble across proof something sinister was at play in Juliette’s death, threatening to expose the long-buried secrets of the artist’s aristocratic family.

Dubai, now: An art dealer is accused of the brutal murder of his oldest friend – the last surviving member of the Willoughby dynasty.

Three suspicious deaths over the course of a century.

Is the key to unlocking them all hidden in Juliette Willoughby’s lost painting?

From the author of The Club, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is Ellery Lloyd’s compulsive multiple – timeline mystery – a story of love and madness, of obsession and revenge.

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MY REVIEW:

Glamorous, bold, ambitious and intelligent, The Final Act of Juliette Willougby is a captivating story of love, madness, scandal, revenge, and justice. 

Juliette Willoughby is famous in the art world for her surrealist masterpiece, Self Portrait as Sphinx. The heiress fled her ancestral home to live in Paris with her married lover and the pair were tragically killed in an accidental studio fire in 1938. Her portrait was also destroyed. 53 years later two art history students at Cambridge discover proof that her death may not have been accidental after all. A discovery that could be disastrous for her aristocratic family as it threatens to expose their long-buried secrets. In the present day, an art dealer in Dubai is accused of murdering his oldest friend who just happened to be the last surviving member of the Willoughby dynasty. Could Juliette’s lost painting hold the key to unlocking these mysteries? 

This was one of our SquadPod featured books last month and I was even more excited to read it after watching Vik’s Instagram Live with the authors. I’ve also seen many other bloggers sing Ellery Lloyd’s praises, but I’m ashamed to say that despite owning all of their books, this was my first time reading one of them. The hype is real my friends and I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. Skillfully written, cleverly plotted,  intricately woven and filled with twists and red herrings I was on the edge of my seat trying to unravel this complex mystery. A vast array of compelling characters drew me into their world as the story moved seamlessly between timelines and narrators. I was hooked and only solved the puzzle  moments before the big reveal and the surprising but satisfying conclusion.

Heart-stopping, immersive, and gripping, The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby is a riveting thriller and a must-read for fans of the genre. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Collette Lyons is a journalist and editor, the former content director of Elle (UK) and editorial director at Soho House. She has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and the Sunday Times. 

Paul Vlitos is the author of two previous novels, Welcome to the Working Week and Every Day is Like Sunday. He is the program director for English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Surrey.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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READALONG REVIEW: Redemption by Jack Jordan

Published June 20th, 2024 by Simon & Schuster UK
Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Crime Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Gay Fiction, Adventure Fiction

Happy Publication Day to Redemption, the new bingeable, five-star thriller from the King of the moral dilemma. Thank you to The Likely Suspects for the invitation to take part in the readalong and the gifted copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘Thrilling, heartfelt, and hugely evocative, Redemption manages to be both intensely exciting and deeply moving. A brilliant achievement’ Alex Michaelides

‘Tense, dark, emotional, and beautifully written, this action-packed gut-punch of a novel is flawless, and one of the best books I’ve read this year’ Andrea Mara 

THE LATEST PULSE-POUNDING THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE MORAL DILEMMA AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, JACK JORDAN.

Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.
But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.
But as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself.
Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to redemption . . . or to retribution.

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MY REVIEW:

“Maybe I am a monster, but I can’t stop now. Not now I’m so close. I could never live with myself if he walked free.”

Evelyn and Tobias Moore’s world is shattered when their son, Joshua, is killed in a hit and run. Now, Aaron Alexander – the man responsible – is being released after serving 11 years but for Joshua’s mother that isn’t justice. She wants revenge; and she’s been counting down the days until she can make that happen. Now, that time has finally come. But as Evelyn and Tobias embark on their journey, they are on two opposing sides: Evelyn dead set on revenge, while Tobias wants to save his wife from herself. Their road trip towards vengeance and murder quickly becomes a nail-biting game of cat and mouse. Can there be redemption?

“I’ve got to do what I was afraid to do before. I’ve got to try and stop her.” 

He’s done it again! Unbearably tense, twisty, unpredictable and heartfelt, Redemption is another five-star read from the King of dilemma thriller, Jack Jordan. A master-class in thriller writing, this book has it all: action, suspense, foreboding and violence, but also heart, grief, rage, bitterness and hope. The story is told in five parts that begin with flashbacks to Evelyn and Tobias’ life in happier times. These sections were so emotional, emphasising the magnitude of their loss and how much their lives have changed since Joshua’s death. There is such a stark contrast that I’d have believed you if you’d told me I was reading about two different couples. Jordan makes you feel ALL the feelings, expertly conveying the nuances of grief and how that can look different for everyone. I got book whiplash as I would be close to crying one moment and on the edge of my seat the next, holding on tight with the breakneck speed of the chase.

“I didn’t realise how all-encompassing grief could be. How tyrannical the rage against injustice would be on my thinking…”

Jordan’s characters are always nuanced, relatable and deeply human. One of the things I love most about his book is his expertise at writing anti-heroes you can’t help but root for. He weaves their anguish, pain, dilemmas and humanity into the narrative, highlighting all the shades of grey and making it possible to see yourself in their shoes. Evelyn and Aaron are perfect examples of this. Evelyn’s every word, thought and action is raw, sizzling with white-hot rage, resentment, hatred, bitterness, pain and grief.  She can’t see straight for the need for vengeance and her need to exact what she determines to be justice overwhelms everything else. And as a mother I could understand it. I’m not a vengeful person but I can’t imagine how I would cope in her position and I had a lot of empathy for her, even if I was rooting for Tobias to stop her before she went too far. Meanwhile, Aaron seems like the obvious villain of the story, yet Jordan makes him human with his tragic backstory and deep remorse. I ended up really liking him and rooting for him to survive. Then there is Tobias. Tobias is a broken man who not only lost his only child, but also his wife the night Joshua died. Jordan really makes you feel his heartache and loneliness. His dilemma is palpable as he is torn between helping Evelyn and saving her from herself, even if it means helping the man who killed his child. It was an impossible situation and I felt for him even more as he is thrown into becoming someone he doesn’t recognise in his quest to stop Evelyn. 

“Maybe I am a monster, but I can’t stop now. Not now I’m so close. I could never live with myself if he walked free.”

Intense, heart-rending and bingeable, Redemption is another unmissable thriller from Mr. Jordan. Read it now!

Rating: 🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

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MEET THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019). His thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse. The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s latest book, Conviction, was published in June 2023 and featured in Cosmopolitan’s ‘best new books out in June’ round-up, it was also chosen as one of the June featured books by Magic Radio’s Book Club and the audiobook was selected for Fingerprint Award at Capital Crime 2024.

His next book, Redemption, publishes this June.

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BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones* | Bookshop.org* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

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Thanks for readign, Bibliophiles xxxx